The death has occurred of a much-loved priest who won plaudits for his work exposing the mistreatment of prisoners and abuses by the security forces during the troubles.
Msgr Raymond Murray, who was in his late 80s, also published books including with his clerical colleagues Msgr Denis Faul, who died some years ago.
Fr Murray was born in Newtownhamilton, Co. Armagh in 1938, and was ordained in 1962.
Besides his pastoral duties as a full time curate, Fr Murray was chaplain to St Luke’s Hospital and chaplain to the prisoners in Armagh Gaol which required him to send annual reports to the Northern Ireland Government.
Fr Murray later gave evidence at Strasbourg in the case the Irish Government brought against Britain over the so-called ‘Hooded Men’ who were abused while in British custody.
Over the next 25 years, he continued to produce article highlighting the continued abuse of Catholics by the security forces in the North.
In 1995, along with his friend and colleague, Fr Faul, Fr Murray was made a Prelate of Honour of His Holiness by Pope St John Paul II.
